PAUL  ON  MARS  HILL : 


SWM. 


OR, 

A CHRISTIAN  SURVEY  OF  THE  P4GAN  WORLli. 


A ’ 


SERMON, 


PREACHED  AT  NEWBURYPORT,  JUNE  21,  1818, 


AT  THE 

ORDINATION  * * 


OF  THE  REVEREND 


MESSRS.  SAMUEL  J.  MILLS,  JAMES  RICHARDS,  ED- 
WARD WARREN,  HORATIO  BARDWELL,,^N-* 
JAMIN  C.  »1EIGS,  AND  DANIEL  POOR,^  " 


TO  THE  OFFICE  OF 


Cljtisitian  Missionaries:, 


By  SAMUEL  WORCESTER,  d.d. 

PASTOR  OF  THE  TABERNACLE  CHURCH  IN  SALEM. 

_ . u . 


S 


PUBLISHED  BY  ORDER  OF  THE  PRUDENTIAL  COMMITTEE  OF  THE 
AMERICAN  BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS  FOR  FOREIGN 
MISSIONS. 


ANDOVER : 

PRINTED  BY  FLAGG  AND  GOULD*. 


1815. 


A 


SERMON. 


ACTS  xvii.  16. 

u 

KOW,  WHILE  PAUL  WAITED  FOR  THEM  AT  ATHENS,  HIS  SPIRIT  WAS 
STIRRED  IN  HIM,  WHEN  HE  SAW  THE  CITY  WHOLLY  GIVEN  TO 
IDOLATRY. 

The  history  of  the  first  propagation  of  Christianity 
eminently  deserves  the  attention  of  all  men.  Singularly 
interesting  in  its  subject,  it  is  replete  with  various  and 
momentous  instruction.  It  furnishes  ample  and  most  de- 
cisive evidence,  that  the  gospel  is  from  God  ; it  affords 
opportunity  for  bringing  many  different  and  discordant 
opinions  to  the  test  of  fact ; and  it  shews  in  a strong  light 
the  fallen  condition  of  mankind,  the  necessity  of  a special 
interposition  of  Heaven  for  their  recovery,  the  wisdom 
and  the  benignity  of  the  divine  dispensations,  and  the 
sovereignty  and  the  plenitude  of  divine  grace. 

The  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles,  after  planting  the  gospel 
in  many  provinces  of  Asia,  passed  over  into  Europe,  and 
preached  with  success  in  Macedonia,  particularly  at  Phi- 
lippi, Thessalonica,  and  Berea.  In  each  of  these  places 
flourishing  churches  were  planted ; hut  in  each,  he  met 
with  determined  opposition,  and  violent  persecution.  Driv- 
en from  Macedonia,  he  directed  his  course  southerly  into 
the  province  of  Achaia,  and  came  to  Athens  ; whence  lie 

I 


4 


sent  back  an  order  to  his  two  assistants,  Silas  and  Timo- 
thy, to  come  without  delay,  and  join  him  there. 

Athens  was  the  light  of  Greece,  and  the  glory  of  the 
gentile  world.  Her  heroes,  statesmen,  and  sages — ^her 
poets,  orators,  and  artists  were  renowned  in  all  nations ; 
and  their  renown  has  descended  to  our  day,  and  will  de- 
scend to  latest  time.  Though,  when  visited  by  the  apos- 
tle, she  had  passed  her  meridian ; yet  even  then  she  was 
the  mistress  of  science,  the  model  of  taste  and  refinement, 
the  acknowledged  and  venerated  preceptress  of  the  Roman 
empire.  To  a literary,  philosophic,  or  curious  mind,  no 
place  on  earth  could  have  been  more  interesting.  Monu- 
ments of  other  times,  and  works  of  late  production  ; tem- 
ples, statues,  and  paintings  ; schools,  books,  and  musea  ; 
scholars,  artists,  and  connoisseurs,  come  from  different 
countries  for  improvement  or  amusement,  and  enjoying  the 
luxuries  of  learned  or  of  polite  leisure  : — all  these  would 
solicit  attention,  and  offer  rare  and  diversified  entertain- 
ment. Paul  is  universally  allowed  to  have  been  a schol- 
ar, and  a man  of  taste  ; and  from  the  vigour  of  his  facul- 
ties, the  warmth  and  culture  of  his  mind,  he  must  have 
been  eminently  susceptible  of  the  impressions  of  the  objects 
and  scenes  around  him  at  Athens.  He  knew  well  where 
he  was,  and  his  mind  was  awake ; but  his  observations 
and  his  feelings  were  widely  different  from  those  of  the  mere 
philosopher,  critick,  or  man  of  the  world.  He  knew  that 
he  was  at  the  very  centre  of  earthly  glory,  amid  the  proud- 
est monuments  of  the  human  faculties  : but  in  the  light  of 
that  glory,  and  by  the  aid  of  those  monuments,  he  saw 
human  nature  in  most  deplorable  degi’adation  and  wretch- 
edness : without  God,  without  holiness,  w ithout  happi- 
ness ; — following  after  vanities,  feeding  on  wind,  and  per-, 
ishing  in  its  own  deceptions  and  corruptions.  He  observ- 
ed that,  with  all  its  dazzling  splendours,  that  far  famed 
city  was  wholly  given  to  idolatry  ; and  his  spirit  teas 


5 


utivred  in  him.  His  emotions  were  such  as  not  to  be  re- 
pressed ; his  holy  zeal  was  raised  to  a fervour,  not  to  be 
restrained. 

It  cannot,  iny  brethren,  be  unsuitable  to  the  present 
occasion,  to  consider  more  particularly  the  cause  of  the 
strong  emotions,  which  the  apostle  when  at  Athens  felt ; 
and  then  to  contemplate  what  he  was  impelled  to  do,  and 
the  eflects  which  ensued. 

I.  His  spirit  was  stirred  in  him,  because  he  saw  the 
city  wholly  given  to  idolatry;  or,  as  some  would  choose 
to  read,  filled  with  idols.  Either  of  these  renderings  is 
good,  and  neither  of  them  disagrees  with  well  established 
fact.  Greece  at  large  was  famous  for  the  immense  multi- 
plicity of  its  gods,  and  its  excessive  devoted  ness  to  idola- 
trous superstitions ; and  in  both  the  one  and  the  other, 
Athens  was  scarcely  less  preeminent,  than  in  arms  and 
arts.  By  one  classic  author,*  she  is  said  to  have  had 
more  images  than  all  the  rest  of  Greece,’’  and  to  have 

exceeded  all  other  people  in  her  assiduities  towar  ds  the 
gods  by  auother,t  to  have  had  twice  as  many  sacred 
festivals  as  any  other  city  and  by  a third  J she  is  call- 
ed “ the  Altar  of  Greece.”  With  these  testimonies  the 
voice  of  all  antiquity  agi’ees. 

Athens,  in  addition  to  the  gods  peculiarly  her  own, 
adopted  those  of  Egypt,  Phenicia,  Syria — of  the  pagan 
nations  indeed,  generally,  in  Asia,  Africa  and  Europe. 
These  deities  were  the  luminaries  of  heaven, — the  elements 
of  nature, — dead  heroes,  and  other  men  and  women,  distin- 
guished in  their  days, — animals  of  various  kinds, — human 
faculties,  virtues  and  vices, — and  imaginary  beings  of  mon- 
i strous  form  and  character.  For  these  gods,  images  were 
] made,  temples  were  built,  altars  were  erected,  and  rites  of 
worship  were  instituted.  To  some  of  them  the  worst  of 
passions,  and  tlie  worst  of  vices  were  attributed  ; and  co.r- 
* Pausaniiis.  + Xenophon.  t .^lian. 


f 


6 


respondent  to  the  attributes,  with  wliich  they  were  invest- 
ed,  were  the  rites  with  which  they  were  worshipped. 
Their  images  were  symbols  of  enormity ; their  temples 
were  high  places  of  abomination ; their  festivals  were 
scenes  of  licentious  revelry.  Such  were  the  gods,  and 
such  was  the  religion  of  renowned  Athens. 

The  city  was  wholly  given  to  idolatry  : all  classes  of  the 
people  were  idolaters.  For  ages,  indeed,  this  city  had 
been  the  seat  of  philosophy,  and  the  residence  of  sages  ; 
and  for  several  hundred  years  some  correct  and  sublime 
ideas  of  the  One  Supreme  God  were  to  be  found  in  her 
schools.  Many  of  her  philosophers  saw  great  defects  in 
the  established  religion,  great  absurdities  in  the  customary 
superstitions,  great  corruptions  in  the  general  manners ; 
but  those  defects  their  wisdom  did  not  remedy,  those  ab-  , 
surdities  their  philosophy  did  not  correct,  those  corrup- 
tions their  virtue  did  not  withstand : with  all  their  fine 
sentiments,  their  vaunted  reasonings,  their  imposing  pre- 
tensions, they  themselves  worshipped  lords  many  and  gods 
many,  communicated  in  the  abominations  of  the  mysteries 
and  of  the  temples,  were  influenced  by  the  reigning  delu- 
sions, and  contaminated  with  the  prevalent  enormities. 
All  this,  and  more,  St.  Paul,  wlio  had  the  best  opportuni- 
ties for  knowing  the  facts,  and  wrote  as  he  was  moved  by 
the  Holy  Ghost,  most  forcibly  declares.  He  docs  not  de- 
ny that  those  celebrated  wise  men,  had  some  correct  know- 
ledge of  the  Supreme  Being ; but  he  affirms  that  when 
they  knew  God,  they  did  not  glorify  him  as  God,  neither 
were  thankful ; but  became  vain  in  their  imaginations,  and 
their  foolish  heart  was  darkened.’^  Though  they  had  at- 
tained to  some  just  notions  of  the  one  True  God,  and  could 
discourse  sublimely  concerning  his  existence,  his  attributes, 
his  providence,  and  the  homage  and  service,  due  to  him 
from  his  creatures  ; yet  they  did  not  supremely  love  and 
reverence  him  : did  not  pay  even  their  external  homage. 


7 


exclusively,  nor  principally,  if  indeed  at  all,  to  him — did 
not  openly  avow  and  endeavour  to  propagate  what  they 
knew  of  him  ; but,  alienated  from  him  in  their  minds,  they 
contented  themselves  with  curious  speculations  upon  his 
nature  and  character,  gloried  in  their  fancied  preeminence 
in  wisdom,  and  made  a merit  of  joining  themselves,  and 
inculcating  upon  their  disciples  to  join,  in  the  established 
worship  of  the  innumerable  idols  of  their  city  and  nation. 
Thus,  while  they  professed  to  be  wise,  they  became 
fools,  and  changed  the  glory  of  the  incomiptible  God  in- 
to an  image  made  like  to  corruptible  man,  and  to  binls, 
and  four-footed  beasts,  and  creeping  things.’^  This  is 
true  even  of  Socrates  and  Plato,  as  the  most  authentick 
records  of  antiquity  attest.  Socrates,  when  arraigned  be- 
fore the  high  court  of  Athens,  and  accused  of  innovating 
in  religion,  expressly  pleaded  in  his  defence,  that  he  had 
always,  both  in  private  and  in  publick,  worshipped,  and 
taught  his  disciples  to  worship,  the  many  gods  of  his  coun- 
try ; and  for  the  truth  of  his  plea  he  confidently  appealed 
to  those  who  had  best  known  the  course  of  his  practice, 
and  the  tenour  of  his  instructions.  If  such  was  the  prac- 
tice of  the  best  of  the  philosophers,  we  should  rationally 
conclude,  and  the  conclusion  is  supported  by  abundant 
* evidence,  that  the  practice  of  the  rest  w'^as  certainly  no 
better. 

Of  this  enormous  inconsistency  and  impiety,  the  conse- 
quences were  most  deplorable  and  fatal.  As  with  all  their 
knowledge,  they  changed  the  truth  of  God  into  a lie,  and 
worshipped  and  served  the  creature,  more  than  the  Crea- 
tor ; God  also  gave  them  up  to  uncleanness,  through  the 
lusts  of  their  own  hearts  to  vile  affections,’^  the  very 

vilest,  indeed,  which  have  ever  polluted  and  disgi’aced  bur 
fallen  nature  ; to  a reprobate  mind,  to  do  those  things 
which  w ere  not  convenient ; being  filled  with  all  unrigh- 
teousness, fornication,  wickedness,  covetousness,  ma}i- 


8 


ciousness,  envy,  murder,  debate,  deceit,  malignity ; wliis* 
perers,  backbiters,  haters  of  God,  despiteful,  proud,  boast- 
ers, inventors  of  evil  things,  disobedient  to  parents,  cove- 
nant breakers,  without  natural  affection,  implacable,  un- 
merciful : who,  though  they  knew  the  judgment  of  God, 
that  they  that  commit  such  things  are  worthy  of  death  ; 
yet  not  only  did  them,  but  had  pleasure  in  those  who  prac- 
tised them.’’  Is  this,  my  brethren,  high  colouring  ? Let 
it  be  remembered,  it  is  a picture  sketched  by  the  pencil  of 
God.  Though  shocking  in  the  extreme,  we  may  rest  as- 
sured, it  is  faithful  and  true.  Of  its  truth,  they,  if  any 
such  there  are,  who  place  more  reliance  on  classical  than 
on  scriptural  authority,  may  find  sufficient  proof  in  the 
most  unquestionable  classical  records.  If,  indeed,  reli- 
ance is  to  be  placed  on  those  records,  the  very  best  of  the 
sages  were  chargeable  with  some  of  the  very  vilest  and 
most  abominable  of  the  enormities,  which  the  apostle  so 
solemnly  charges  upon  the  wise  men  in  general.  For  the 
rest  of  them,  that  they  were  given  up  to  a reprobate 
mind,”  the  monstrous  doctrines  which  they  invented,  the 
endless  mazes  in  which  they  were  bewildered,  and  the 
flagitious  impieties  and  vices  which  they  practised  them- 
selves, and  approved  in  others,  most  decisively  evince. 

If  such  was  the  character  of  those  who  held  the  high- 
est pretensions  to  wisdom  and  virtue — of  the  philosophers, 
legislators,  and  magistrates — what  must  the  character  of 
the  great  mass  of  the  people  have  been  ? It  appears,  in- 
deed, from  the  phrase,  given  wjv,”  repeatedly  used  by 
the  apostle,  and  with  particular  application  to  the  wise, 
men,  that  they,  for  atrociously  perverting  their  wisdom 
and  knowledge,  were  judicially  left  of  God  to  spiritual 
blhidness,  and  to  “ their  own  hearts’  lusts and,  no 
doubt,  in  the  sight  of  God,  whom  they  would  not  glorify, 
and  by  whose  direction  their  character  has  been  so  strik- 
ingly depicted,  they  were  in  a state  of  deeper  corruption. 


11 


S/f 

iu  the  highest  veneration  for  wisdom  and  authority,  not  hy 
the  Athenians  only,  but  by  all  the  Greeks,  and  even  by 
other  nations,  and  liad  cognizance  of  all  important  causes, 
especially  of  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  publick  religion. 

It  M^as  at  this  bar  that  Socrates,  four  hundred  years  be- 
fore, had  been  arraigned  and  condemned,  for  alleged  in- 
novation in  religion,  and  contempt  of  the  gods.  Paul, 
however,  was  brought  thither,  not  so  much,  probably,  for 
judicial  trial,  as  for  curious  inquiry. 

May  we  know,  said  they,  what  this  new  doctrine, 
whereof  thou  speakcst,  is?  For  thou  bringest  certain 
strange  things  to  our  ears  : we  would  know,  therefore, 
what  these  things  mean.’^  They  seem  to  have  been  part- 
ly in  raillery,  and  partly  in  earnest.  They  regarded  the 
apostle  and  his  doctrine  with  scorn  ; yet  they  would  have 
the  court  hear  and  judge  concerning  the  new  deities  : but 
their  principal  motive  was  curiosity.  For,’^  says  the 
sacred  historian,  all  the  Athenians,  and  strangers  w ho 
were  there,  spent  their  time  in  nothing  else,  but  either  to 
tell  or  to  hear  some  new  thing  some  new  doctrine  ; or 
some  philosophical,  or  literary,  or  curious  novelty. 

Too  many,  alas  ! are  the  Jitlienians  of  our  ow  n age  : 
too  many  they,  who  attend  upon  the  preached  gospel  to 
hear  what  the  babbler  will  say  ; Avho  listen  to  the  momen- 
tous truths  of  salvation,  and  of  eternity,  from  no  higher 
motive  than  the  gratification  of  an  idle  or  vain  curiosity  ; 
and  who,  when  they  have  lieard  these  truths,  are  ready  to 
treat  them  as  old  things,  and  to  seek  for  something  newer. 

Paul,  however,  though  beset  with  triflers,  w^as  himself 
serious  : and  though  pressed,  impertinently,  to  deliver  and 
explain,  his  new  doctrine,  he  was  ready  to  do  it ; but  for 
purposes  infinitely  higher,  than  that  of  gratifying  an  idle 
curiosity,  or  aflbrding  matter  for  vain  speculation.  He 
stood  in  the  midst  of  Mars  Hill,”  in  the  very  centre  and 
on  the  highest  tower  of  gentile  religion  and  philosophy ; 


13 


and  his  audience^  composed  of  the  members  of  that  august 
court,  and  of  others,  senators,  statesmen,  philosophers, 
rhetoricians,  and  professors  and  students  of  various  learn- 
ing, might  well  have  been  the  boast  of  the  gentile  world. 
In  the  introduction  of  his  address,  he  availed  himself,  with 
singular  felicity,  of  two  important  circumstances  : the  un- 
common devotedness  of  the  Athenians  to  the  worship  of 
the  gods,  and  a remarkable  inscription  on  one  of  their 
altars. 

Ye  men  of  Athens,”  said  he,  I perceive  that  in  all 
things  ye  are  too  superstitious  exceedingly  addicted  to 
the  icorship  of  invisible  powers.  The  word  which  he 
used  was  ambiguous,  and  might  be  understood  by  them 
as  expressing  a trait  of  character,  which  they  could  con- 
sider, not  as  reproachful,  but  as  highly  honourable  to 
them.  For  as  I passed  by,  and  beheld  your  devotions,  I 
found  an  altar  with  this  inscription  : ‘ to  the  unknown 
God.’  ” So  great  was  their  addictedness  to  the  worship 
of  lords  many  and  gods  many,  that  they  would  even  erect 
ail  altar  to  one,  of  Avhose  character,  being,  or  even  name, 
they  had  no  certain  knowledge.  Whom,  therefore,  ye 
ignorantly  worship,  him  declare  I unto  you.”  You  sup- 
pose me  to  be  a setter  forth  of  strange  gods,”  and  de- 
mand of  me  information  respecting  them : but  he,  to  whom 
your  mysterious  altar  is  inscribed,  is  the  God  whom  I 
serve.  Him  would  I make  known  unto  you  ; and  what 
relates  to  his  will  and  worship  is  the  ^ new  doctrine’  which 
I preach. 

This  supreme  Deity  is  the  Creator  of  all  things  visible 
and  invisible  : for  the  world  neither  existed  from  eternity, 
us  some  of  your  wise  men  have  supposed,  nor  was  form- 
ed by  Chance,  or  by  Fate,  as  others  liave  imagined.  But 
the  God  who  made  the  world,  and  all  things  therein, 
seeing  that  he  is  Lord  of  heaven  and  cartli,  dwelleth  not 
in  temples  piade  with  hands.”  This  Infinite  Being,  the 


9 


and  of  heavier  guilt,  than  were  in  general,  the  other  clas- 
ses of  the  people.  Their  case,  in  this  respect  was  similar 
to  that  of  the  scribes  and  pharisees  among  the  Jews. 
Odious,  however,  as  those  scribes  and  pharisees  have  been 
made  to  appear,  by  the  great  Teacher  from  heaven,  who 
looked  into  their  hearts,  and  stripped  them  of  their  dis- 
guises ; they  were  nevertheless,  in  comparison  with  the 
people  in  general,  outwardly  and  in  the  sight  of  men, 
fair  and  beautiful.’^  So  too  were  the  wise  men  of  Athens. 
Not  only  did  they  hold  out  lofty  pretensions  to  virtue ; 
but  they  really  appeared  to  be  comparatively  virtuous. 

What  then,  I ask  again,  must  the  character  of  the  great 
mass  of  the  people  have  been  ? Vicious — openly  and  dis- 
solutely vicious. — How  could  it  be  otherwise  ? They  were 
of  the  same  depraved  nature  with  the  rest  of  mankind ; 
they  had  not  the  word  of  God  to  teach  them  the  way  of 
life ; they  had  no  publick  instruction,  religious  or  moral ; 
in  the  examples  of  those  who  claimed  to  be  their  guides, 
and  even  in  the  character  of  their  gods,  they  had  incen- 
tives to  vice,  rather  than  motives  to  virtue.  Their  reli- 
gion consisted  in  merely  external  observances ; in  ablu- 
tions, sacrifices,  and  festivals  ; in  rites  and  devices,  some 
of  which,  though  sacred  to  their  gods,  were  yet  most  li- 
centious in  their  nature,  and  most  corrupting  in  their  ten- 
dency. They  walked,  like  other  gentiles,  in  the  vani- 
ty of  their  mind  ; having  the  understanding  darkened,  be- 
ing alienated  from  the  life  of  God,  through  the  ignorance 
that  was  in  them,  throngh  the  blindness  of  their  heart.’’ 

All  classes  of  the  people  were  infected  with  the  vices, 
were  sunk  in  the  corruptions,  so  strikingly  depicted  by 
the  apostle,  in  the  first  of  Romans,  and  elsewhere.  They 
lived  without  God  in  the  world,  were  devoted  to  their 
idols,  were  enveloped  in  darkness,  w'ere  immersed  in  pol- 
lutions, were  emphatically  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins. 

Such  was  the 'State,  in  which  the  apostle  saw  the  whole 


10 


city  of  Athens  ; and  such  was  the  cause  of  his  spirit  be- 
ing stirred  in  him.  Let  us  now,  then, 

II.  Contemplate  what  he  was  impelled  to  do,  and  the 
effects  which  ensued. 

Even  in  Athens  there  was  a synagogue  of  the  Jews,  and 
to  them  and  the  proselytes  who  consorted  with  them,  the 
apostle,  in  the  fulness  of  his  heart,  first  applied  himself ; 
with  what  success  we  are  not  informed.  Not  confined, 
however,  to  the  synagogue,  he  disputed  daily  in  the  mar- 
ket place,”  or  publick  forum  ; a place  of  general  resort, 
where  the  philosophers  and  students,  as  well  as  others, 
were  accustomed  to  meet  for  conversation  and  debate. 
His  discourses  drew  attention,  and  he  was  soon  encoun- 
tered by  certain  philosophers  of  the  Epicureans  and  of  the 
Stoicks  two  rival  sects,  of  discordant  principles  and 
manners,  but  ready  to  unite  in  opposing  the  apostle,  and 
spurning  the  doctrine,  of  Christ. 

At  the  debates  in  the  forum,  the  serious  reasonings  of 
the  apostle  were  answered  with  raillery  and  derision. 
Some  said,  “What  will  this  babbler  say ? Other  some, 
He  seems  to  be  a setter  forth  of  strange  gods.”  It  was 
no  uncommon  thing  for  new  and  foreign  deities  to  be  in- 
troduced at  Athens  ; nor  should  it  be  thought  incredible, 
that,  among  a people  who  had  altars  erected  to  Honour, 
Liberty,  Fame — to  Fear,  Shame,  Famine,  and  Fever — 
Anastasis,  or  Hesurrection  should  be  mistaken  for  a deity. 
Such  was  tlie  fact.  Paul  “ preaclied  Jesus  and  the  re- 
surrection ;”  and  some  of  the  Athenians,  some  even  of  the 
philosopliers,  it  should  seem,  supposed  not  only  that  Je- 
sus was  a god,  but  the  Resurrection  also  a goddess,  whom 
he  wished  to  have  introduced  and  worshipped  among  their 
thirty  thousand  deities.  Under  this  mistake,  they  con- 
ducted the  apostle  to  Areopagus : the  high  court  of  the 
Athenians,  which  had  existed  for  ages,  was  composed  of 
a large  number  of  the  first  characters  of  the  city,  was  lield 


15 


ing  era  has  commenced ; a new  and  most  stupendous 
scene  is  opening  upon  the  world.  No  longer  winking  at 
the  ignorance-)  the  delusions)  the  corruptions  of  the  idol- 
atrous nations)  “ God  now  commandeth  all  men  every 
where  to  repent.”  Under  his  commission)  his  messen- 
gers are  sent  forth  to  proclaim  his  namC)  to  testify  his 
truth)  to  publish  his  salvation : — “ to  preach  to  the  Gen- 
' tiles,  as  well  as  to  the  Jews,  repentance  towards  God,  and 
J faith  in  his  Son  Jesus  Christ.”  And  to  give  to  this  great 
commission  the  most  impressive  sanction,  He  liath  ap- 
pointed a day  in  the  which  he  will  judge  the  world  in 
righteousness,  by  that  man  whom  he  hath  ordained ; 
whereof  he  hath  given  assurance  unto  men,  in  that  he 
hath  raised  him  from  the  dead :” — a fact  of  the  most 
weighty  import,  attested  by  the  most  decisive  evidence, 
and  solemnly  proclaimed,  as  an  irrefragable  proof  of  the 
divine  authority  of  the  new  doctrine  which  I now  declare 
unto  you. 

This,  my  brethren,  was  a discourse,  such  as  before  had 
never  been  heard  at  Athens.  Short  as  this  abstract  is, 
(for  it  is  doubtless  only  an  abstract  of  w hat  the  apostle  de- 
livered,) it  presents  more  of  just  views  of  God,  and  of  sound 
religious  doctrine,  than  was  to  be  found  in  all  the  writings 
of  the  wise  men  of  Athens,  and  of  the  whole  gentile  w'orld  ; 
without  any  of  those  disgustful  adulterations, — those  my- 
thological vagaries,  sophistical  subtilties,  or  panderly  ac- 
commodations to  human  depravity,  which  spoiled  their 
best  systems,  corrupted  their  purest  doctrine,  vilified  their 
highest  gods,  and  debased  their  w isest  men.  lu  a man- 
ner, clear,  forcible  and  sublime,  it  asserts  the  being,  the 
unity,  and  the  perfections  of  God  ; his  creation  of  the 
world  and  all  things  therein ; his  sovereign  providence, 
extending  to  all  nations,  creatures,  and  events  : the  com- 
mon relation  of  all  men  to  him  as  their  original  Father 
and  rightful  Disposer,  and  to  one  another  as  his  offspring 


16 


and  of  one  blood  ; their  common  dependence  upon  him  for 
life,  and  breath,  and  all  things,  and  their  common  obliga- 
tions to  acknowledge,  serve,  and  glorify  him.  It  displays 
in  a strong  light  the  folly,  the  absurdity,  and  the  guilt  of 
image  worship,  and  of  every  species  of  idolatry.  It  al- 
ludes, most  impressively,  to  the  forbearance  and  the  wis- 
dom of  God,  in  affording  opportunity  for  a full  exhibition 
of  the  imbecility  and  the  perversity  of  reason  in  depraved 
human  nature  ; and  of  the  fitness  and  the  necessity  of  a 
special  interposition  of  Heaven  for  the  recovery  of  man- 
kind. It  announces  with  emphatical  distinctness,  a mo- 
mentous change  of  divine  dispensations,  the  opening  upon 
the  world  of  a new  and  most  interesting  scene,  and  the 
high  authoritative  call  upon  all  men  every  where  to  turn 
from  their  vanities  unto  the  living  God.  It  refers,  with 
awful  solemnity  to  the  glories  and  the  terrors  of  the  ap- 
pointed day,  when  all  men  must  stand  before  the  judg- 
ment seat  of  Christ,  for  final  audit  and  everlasting  retribu- 
tion. In  a word,  it  explodes,  at  once,  all  the  vaunted  sys- 
tems of  gentile  philosophy  and  religion, — the  productions 
of  human  wisdom  in  the  long  succession  of  ages  j and  de- 
monstrates, incontestably,  tlie  infinite  importance  to  all 
mankind  of  divine  instruction — of  a religion  from  heaven — 
of  such  a dispensation  as  that  of  the  gospel. 

But,  alas  ! the  light  shone  in  darkness,  and  the  dark- 
ness comprehended — admitted  it  not.”  Having,  in  so  ad- 
mirable a manner  prepared  the  way,  and  just  brought  for- 
ward the  gospel  of  Christ,  the  apostle,  beyond  doubt,  in- 
tended to  proceed  to  a more  distinct  declaration  of  its  prin- 
cipal doctrines.  But  no  sooner  did  he  touch  upon  the  doc- 
trine of  the  resurrection,  than  his  wise  auditors  stopped 
him  short  in  his  course.  Some  of  them  mocked,” — be- 

gun to  laugh  ; derided  him  and  bis  doctrine,  and  would 
<lismiss  him  with  contempt.  But  others  said,  wc  w ill 
hear  thee  again  of  this  maUor.”  His  discoui*se  was  too 


13 

Maker,  the  Possessor,  anil  the  Sovereign  of  the  universe, 
will  not  limit  his  presence,  or  his  abode,  to  any  structures, 
however  magnificent,  erected  by  man  who  has  his  habita- 
tion in  the  dust.  He  inhabiteth  eternity  ; and  the  heaven, 
and  heaven  of  heavens  cannot  contain  him.  “ Neither  is 
he  worshipped  with  men’s  hands,  as  though  he  needed 
any  thing.”  Neither  temples,  nor  shrines,  nor  sacrifices, 
nor  oblations — no  accommodations  which  men  can  pro- 
vide, no  services  which  they  can  render,  are  needed  by 
him,  for  his  own  convenience,  or  happiness,  or  glory.  In 
him  all  things  consist,  on  him  all  creatures  are  dependent ; 
and  “ he  giveth  unto  all,  life,  and  breath,  and  all  things.” 
— “ And  he  hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men, 
to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth  ; and  hath  determined 
the  times  before  appointed,  and  the  bounds  of  their  habi- 
tations.” All  men  are  his  creatures.  All  the  nations  and 
families  of  the  earth,  by  his  almighty  power,  and  under 
his  beneficent  providence,  have  proceeded  from  one  com- 
mon stock ; and  the  periods  of  their  lives,  and  the  boun- 
daries of  their  dwellings,  are  all  ordered  by  him,  accord- 
ing to  the  eternal  counsels  of  his  sovereign  wisdom.  He 
therefore,  should  be  acknowledged  and  adored  by  them 
all,  as  their  common  Father  and  God  : and  he  has  so  de- 
termined their  times,  and  their  habitations — so  ordered 
the  arrangements  of  his  Providence,  as,  from  age  to  age, 
to  exhibit  most  striking  proofs  of  his  being  and  perfec- 
tions ; that  they  might  seek  the  Lord,  if  haply  they 
might  feel  after  him,  and  find  him  :”  that,  amid  the  dark- 
ness and  delusions  of  their  apostacy,  they  might  have  fair 
opportunities  and  powerful  inducements  so  to  exercise 
their  faculties,  as,  by  the  notices  given  them  of  his  eter- 
nal power  and  Godhead,”  to  be  led  back  to  the  know- 
ledge and  worship  of  him.  This  in  his  infinite  benevo- 
lence he  has  done,  “ though  he  is  not  very  far  from  any 
of  mankind as,  were  it  not  for  moral  alienation  and 


14) 


blindness,  all  would  perceive : for  in  him  we  live  and 

move  and  have  our  being.”  Accordingly  certain  of 
your  own  poets  have  said,  We  all  his  offspring  are.’’ 
Forasmuch,  then,  as  we  are  the  olfspriiig  of  God,  we 
ought  not  to  think  that  the  Godhead  is  like  unto  an  image 
of  gold,  or  silver,  or  stone,  graven  by  art  and  man’s  de- 
vice.” Thus  to  change  the  glory  of  the  incorruptible 
God,”  the  fountain  of  all  being  and  sum  of  all  perfection, 

into  images  made  like  to  corruptible  men,  and  to  birds 
and  quadrupeds,  and  reptiles,”  is  infinitely  dishonourable 
to  him, — infinitely  derogatory  to  our  own  divine  origin 
and  proper  dignity.  Vain  imaginations,  however,  have 
for  ages  prevailed  ; and  the  times  of  this  ignorance  God 
winked  at.”  It  was  the  purpose  of  his  sovereign  wisdom, 
that  opportunity  should  be  afforded,  amid  various  changes 
of  times  and  circumstances,  for  the  exertions  of  human 
reason ; that  a fair  experiment  should  be  made,  whether, 
by  their  own  wisdom,  fallen  men  would,  or  could,  recover 
themselves  to  the  true  knowledge  and  worship  of  their 
Maker : and  in  pursuance  of  this  high  purpose,  He  al- 
lowed the  gentile  nations,  to  follow  their  own  devices, 
and  to  go  on  in  their  own  ways,  without  any  special  in- 
terposition, for  instructing  them  by  messengers  divinely 
commissioned,  and  without  those  signal  manifestations  of 
his  holy  displeasure,  which  otherwise  might  have  been 
expected. 

The  period  allotted  for  this  important  purpose  is  now 
come  to  a close.  The  great  experiment  has  been  made, 
and  the  awful  result  is  manifest.  Your  own  mysterious 
inscription,  to  the  unknown  God  ! — an  inscription  on 
the  loftiest  tower  of  philosophy, — is  a solemnly  monumen- 
tal and  most  decisive  attestation,  that  “ the  would  by 

WISDOM  KNOWS  NOT  GoD  !” 

Arrived  at  this  momentous  crisis,  the  course  of  divine 
dispensations  is  now  changed.  A new  and  most  interest- 


17 

serious  for  their  vain  ami  curious  minds,  aud  they  became 
impatient ; yet  they  had  some  impressions  of  the  impor- 
tance of  his  subject,  and  like  Felix,  on  another  occasion, 
they  proposed  to  hear  him  furtlier,  at  a more  convenient 
season.  So  Paul  departed  from  among  them  retired 
from  that  distinguished  assembly,  with  very  painful  re- 
flections, no  doubt,  on  the  vanity  of  human  wisdom,  and 
the  obstinacy  of  human  pride. 

“ How  beit  certain  men  clave  unto  him  and  believed  ; 
among  whom  was  Dionysius  the  Areopagite,  and  a wom- 
an named  Damaris,  and  others  with  them.”  Though  in 
regard  to  the  assembly  at  large,  the  apostle  could  have 
but  little  satisfaction,  yet  his  discourse  was  not  altogether 
fruitless.  A few  became  obedient  to  the  faith.  A few, 
touched  w ith  the  pow  er  of  divine  grace,  turned  from  their 
idols  to  serve  the  living  God,  aud  humbly  to  wait  for 
his  Son  from  heaven,  w hom  he  raised  from  the  dead 
and  those  few  will  shine  forth,  like  the  sun,  in  the  king- 
dom of  God,  for  the  joy  of  the  apostle,  and  for  the  glory 
of  the  Redeemer,  when  all  the  proud  monuments  of  Gre- 
cian wisdom  shall  be  lost  in  everlasting  oblivion. 

Among  the  many  reflections,  which  this  subject  cannot 
fail  to  awaken  in  every  thoughtful  mind,  our  attention  at 
present  must  be  limited  to  a few,  more  particularly  appro- 
priate to  this  interesting  occasion. 

1.  Our  thoughts,  in  the  first  place,  naturally  turn  upon 
the  moral  state  of  the  pagan  w orld. 

Upon  this  subject,  more  perhaps  than  upon  almost  any 
other  of  equal  importance,  do  extremely  inadequate,  and 
delusive  conceptions  prevail.  Dazzled  with  the  splen- 
dours, particularly  of  ancient  Greece,  we  are  apt  to  per- 
ceive but  very  imperfectly  the  moral  darkness,  in  which 
she  was  enveloped — the  moral  corruption,  in  w hich  she 
was  immersed.  Delighted,  charmed,  transported,  with 
her  stupendous  ])roductions  of  genius,  learning  and  taste. 

.3 


18 


\ve  are  ready  to  imagine  that  she  could  be  wanting  in 
nothing,  which  could  exalt  or  adorn  human  nature,  or  se- 
cure and  promote  human  happiness.  How  different  was 
the  fact,  as  found  by  the  apostle  of  Jesus  ! Amid  the 
glare  of  Grecian  glory,  he  saw  the  deep  depravity  of  hu- 
man nature.  He  saw,  that  with  all  their  boasted  light,  the 
people  of  all  classes  were  groping  in  fatal  darkness ; that 
with  all  their  boasted  religion,  “ the  things  which  they 
sacrificed,  they  sacrificed  to  demons  and  not  to  God 
that  with  all  their  boasted  virtues,  they  were  given  up 
to  the  vilest  affections  and  most  detestable  vices  : — that 
their  magnificent  temples  were  scenes  of  puhlick  pollution, 
— of  consecrated  abomination  in  the  sight  of  Him  who 
made  the  heavens  and  the  earth ; that  their  far  famed 
mysteries  were  works  of  darkness,  too  abominable  even 
to  be  named  ; that  their  inimitable  productions  of  genius 
and  of  art  served  only  to  give  grandeur  to  debasement, 
lustre  to  corruption,  and  splendid  disguise  to  deplorable 
wretchedness. 

My  brethren,  is  tlicre  any  part  of  the  pagan  world, 
Avhose  moral  state,  at  this  day,  is  better,  than  was  that  of 
ancient  Greece? — any  pagan  city,  in  whose  praise,  or 
whose  favour,  the  admirers,  or  the  apologists  of  gentilism 
would  say  more,  than  for  ancient  Athens  ? We  have 
lieard  much  of  India : much  in  praise  of  its  religion,  of 
its  morals,  of  its  happiness.  Have  we  heard  it,  however, 
from  any  one  who  has  viewed  that  empire  of  paganism 
with  the  eyes  of  a Paul  ? Have  we  heard  it,  under  the 
sanction  of  Him,  whose  commandments  are  universal  and 
everlasting  : “ Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before  me 
— “ Thou  shalt  make  unto  thee  no  graven  image — 
“ Thou  shalt  not  kill “ Thou  shalt  not  commit  adul- 
tery “ Thou  shalt  not  steal “ Thou  shalt  not 
bear  false  witness  !”  Are  not  these  commands  violated, 
throughout  the  whole  extent  of  pagan  India,  and  by  all 


19 


classes  of  the  people,  without  compunction,  in  the  face  of 
day,  and  even  with  claims  of  merit?  What  is  the  concur- 
rent testimony  of  a Schwartz,  a Carey,  a lluchanan,  a 
Jones,  a Teignmouth,  and  many  others  ? Is  not  their 
witness  true  ? Go  to  that  land,  ye  who  would  have  it 
believed,  that  its  moral  state  scarcely  admits  of  improve- 
ment, and  see.  Go  to  JBanares,  the  consecrated  seat  of 
Braminical  wisdom, -the  Athens  of  the  modern  pagan  world 
— and  see  if  that  city  also  is  not  wholly  given  to  idola- 
try : — thence  extend  your  survey  in  all  directions,  and  see 
if  the  whole  immense  regions  around  are  not  full  of  idols. 
Go  to  the  banks  of  the  Ganges,  and  behold  the  multitudes 
of  human  beings, — infants,  aged  and  infirm, — continually 
sacrificed  to  that  watery  god  : — thence  look  through  all 
the  wide  and  dark  realms  of  Brahma,  and  behold  the  fires 
of  the  sacred  piles,  on  which  many  thousands  of  widows 
are  annually  devoted,  by  his  religion,  to  self-immolation, 
with  the  dead  bodies  of  their  husbands.  Go  to  the  tem- 
ples of  the  numerous  gods  : — though  we  will  not  ask  you 
to  look  on  the  hideous  scenes  of  impurity  and  of  blood,  of 
which  the  emblems  and  the  proofs  will  be  but  too  mani- 
fest ; yet  we  will  conjure  you  to  consider  very  soberly, 
what  must  be  the  moral  state  of  a people,  the  publick  rites 
of  whose  religion  are  too  revolting  to  be  viewed  by  a Chris- 
tian eye, — to  be  uttered  by  a Christian  tongue. — And  is 
this  the  religion,  on  which  men,  calling  themselves  by  the 
name  of  the  Holy  and  Just  One,  so  liberally  lavish  their 
praises  ! Is  this  the  morality,  Avhich  they  would  have  our 
missionaries  bring  back  into  this  country,  in  exchange  for 
the  holy  Christianity  which  we  would  propagate  in  that ! 

Is  the  religion,  or  the  morality  better  in  Burmah, — in 
China — in  Japan — in  Thibet — in  Tartary — in  any  part 
of  pagan  Asia  ? Is  it  better  in  the  benighted  regions  of 
Africa — of  Northern  or  Southern  America — or  in  the  isl- 
ands of  the  Southern  Ocean  ? Are  not  all  those  nations 


20 


aud  tribes  wholly  given  to  idolatry  ? Are  they  not  all  in 
darkness,  in  the  shadow  of  death  ? Have  they  not  all 
changed  the  glory  of  the  incorruptible  God  into  images 
made  like  to  corruptible  man,  and  to  birds,  and  four-foot- 
ed beasts,  and  creeping  things  ? Are  they  not  all  utterly 
alienated  from  the  fountain  of  light  and  of  purity, — es- 
tranged from  the  laAVs  and  the  ways  of  righteousness  and 
true  holiness, — bewildered  with  delusive  imaginations  and 
devoted  to  lying  vanities  ? — Devoid  of  the  purifying  and 
elevating  principles  aud  hopes,  which  point  to  a future 
inheritance,  incomiptible,  and  undefiled,  and  that  fadeth 
not  away, — and  given  up  to  vile  affections,  to  do  those 
things  which  are  not  convenient,  and  to  perish  in  their 
deceivings  and  corruptions  ! Is  not  this  the  deplorable 
state,  in  which  the  first  heralds  of  the  gospel  found  the 
whole  pagan  world  in  their  day  ? Is  it  not  the  state,  in 
which  all  the  pagan  nations  are  to  be  found  in  our  own 
age  ? 

2.  We  are  led,  in  tlie  second  place,  to  consider  the 
imbecility,  and  the  perversity  of  human  wisdom. 

The  temptation  offered  to  our  first  mother  was,  Ye 
shall  be  as  gods.’’  And  she  took  of  the  fruit  and  did 
cat,”  because,  especially,  she  supposed  it  to  be  a fruit 

to  make  one  wise.”  This,  my  brethren,  has  been  the 
fatal  delusion  of  her  posterity  in  all  ages.  Vain  man 
would  be  wise.”  To  this  delusion,  in  the  sovereign  wis- 
dom of  God,  the  nations  of  men,  for  a long  succession  of 
ages,  were  given  up.  They  were  left  to  walk  in  the  w.ay 
of  their  own  hearts,  and  in  the  sight  of  their  own  eyes 
to  give  scope  to  their  imaginations,  and  to  seek  out  their 
inventions, — that  their  vaunted  wisdom  might  be  fully  dis- 
played in  its  real  character.  What  was  the  consequence? 
— Darkness  covered  the  earth,  and  gross  darkness  the 
people.”  The  nations  made  to  themselves  lords  many 
and  gods  many  deified  every  part  of  the  creation,  and 


tilled  the  world  with  idols.  They  wandered  further,  and 
further,  and  further  from  God ; the  darkness  in  which 
they  groped  continually  thickened ; they  lost  themselves 
in  endless  mazes,  and  plunged  into  the  deepest  corrup- 
tions. It  was  thus  with  the  Greeks,  as  well  as  the  har- 
barians, — with  those  that  were  esteemed  the  wisest,  as 
well  as  the  most  ignorant.  So  decisive  was  the  result, 
and  so  humiliating,  that  Socrates  of  Athens  himself,  ex- 
claimed, ‘‘  You  may  even  give  over  all  hope  of  amending 
men’s  manners,  for  the  future  ; unless  God  he  pleased  to 
send  some  one  to  instruct  you.”  Plato  also  said,  “ What- 
ever is  fit,  right,  and  as  it  should  be,  in  this  evil  state  of 
the  world,  can  be  so  only  by  the  particular  interposition 
of  God.” 

The  men  Avho  gloried  in  their  wisdom,  could  neither 
reform  the  multitude,  nor  even  recover  themselves  from 
the  delusions  and  corruptions  of  a world  lying  in  wick- 
edness.” Much  indeed  has  their  wisdom  been  celebrated 
in  all  ages  ; much  is  it  blazoned  and  extolled  in  the  pres- 
ent  age,  in  lands  called  Christian, — and — lamentable  to 
tell ! — in  pulpits  professedly  consecrated  to  Him  who  is 
the  light  of  the  world.  AVe  do  not  deny,  that  the  wise 
men  of  Greece  had  some  correct  ideas  relating  to  religion 
and  morals  ; some  sublime  conceptions  of  a God  : some 
lofty  notions  of  virtue,  and  of  the  supreme  good.  So  had 
the  wise  men  of  Judea,  who  crucified  the  Holy  One,  and 
the  Just:  so  too  have  the  wise  men  of  Christian  lands, 
who  deny  the  Lord  that  bought  them!”  But  what  says 
the  Apostle  ? — Let  his  words  be  repeated,  and  never  be 
forgotten.  When  they  knew  God,  they  glorified  him  not 
as  God,  neither  were  thankful : became  vain  in  their  im- 
aginations, and  their  foolish  heart  was  darkened.  Pro- 
fessing themselves  to  he  wise,  they  became  fools; — chang- 
ed the  truth  of  God  into  a lie,  and  worshipped,  and  served 
the  creature,  more  than  the  Creator.  And  for  this  cause. 


God  gave  them  up  to  vile  affections,  and  to  a reprobate 
mind/’  This  solemn  testimony  of  an  apostle  of  Christ, 
who  had  the  best  means  of  knowing  the  truth  in  the  case, 
and  wrote  under  the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  is  not 
to  be  invalidated  by  any  modern  admirers  of  pagan  wis- 
dom and  pagan  virtue.  Allow  to  those  ancient  sages  as 
much  as  you  please  ; — allow,  if  it  be  thought  right,  that 
they  were  as  M'ise,  as  leaimed,  as  virtuous,  as  the  celc- 
brated  scribes  and  Rabbins  of  the  Jews  ; or  as  the  phi- 
losophical deists,  and  rational  Christians  of  the  present 
day  but  remember  that,  with  all  their  wisdom,  and 
learning,  and  virtue,  they  were  in  God’s  account  fools,” 
— men  of  reprobate  minds,” — proud,  boasters,  invent- 
ors of  evil  things,” — filled  with  all  unrighteousness, 
wickedness,  deceit,  and  malignity.”  Remember,  too,  that 
of  them  the  oracle  of  Jehovah  said,  I will  destioy  the 
wisdom  of  the  wise,  and  will  bring  to  nothing  the  under- 
standing of  the  prudent.” 

Theirs,  my  brethren,  was  not  the  wisdom  which  de- 
scendeth  from  above.”  It  was  not  the  wisdom  which 
“ bows  down  the  loftiness  of  man,  and  makes  low  the 
haughtiness  of  man.”  We  censure  it  not  for  failing  to 
discover  truths,  bcyoud  the  ])ower  of  unassisted  reason  to 
discover  ; but  for  corrupting  such  as  were  known,  and 
barring  the  mind  against  others.  Itistead  of  preparing  the 
minds  of  men  for  a ready  reception  of  the  doctrine  of 
Christ,  it  prepared  them  for  the  most  desperate  resistance 

* As  much  as  this,  many  of  the  philo<<ophical  and  rational  seem 
eager  to  claim  for  them.  The  more  fully,  however,  this  claim  is  ad- 
mitted, the  more  clearly  it  w'ill  appear,  of  how  little  avail  all  that  is 
called  virtue — all  that  is  called  religion — is,  to  bring  men  to  God,  so 
long  as  in  the  temper  of  their  hearts,  they  are  unprepared  truly  to 
adopt  the  sentiment  of  him,  who  had  been  a pharisee  of  the  strictest 
sort : “ God  forbid  that  I should  glory,  save  in  the  cross  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ."’ 


of  this  holy  doctrine.  Instead  of  being  forward  to  bow 
before  the  cross  of  “ God  manifest  in  the  flesh,”  it  proudly 
exalted  itself  against  the  great  mystery  of  godliness.” 
Never  probably  did  the  Apostle  of  the  gentiles  find  an 
audience  less  open  to  the  sanctifying  and  saving  word  of 
the  gospel, — less  prepared  to  receive  Him  whom  God 
hath  set  forth  to  be  a propitiation,  through  faith  in  his 
blood,  than  the  assembly  of  Mars  Hill.  To  the  wise  men 
of  Greece,  “ Christ  crucified  was  foolishness.” 

Has  not  the  wisdom  of  the  world  preserved  the  same 
character  to  the  present  day  ? Is  it  not  the  same  in  pagan 
lands,  and  in  Christian ; when  exerting  itself  to  pervert 
the  truths  made  known  by  the  light  of  nature, — and  those 
exhibited  in  the  volume  of  revelation ; when  employed 
in  changing  the  glory  of  the  incorruptible  God  into  worth- 
less images, — and  in  bringing  down  the  supreme  dignity 
of  Emmanuel  to  a level  with  fallible  and  peccable  men  ! 

We  have  heard  much  of  the  Bramins  and  sages  of  In- 
dia. But  what  have  those  wise  men  done  ? Have  they 
. turned  the  people  from  their  vanities  unto  the  living  God, 
— from  the  w ays  of  sin  to  the  ways  of  holiness  ? Are  they 
themselves  prepared  by  their  wisdom,  their  learning  and 
virtue,  humbly  and  thankfully  to  bow^  to  the  ^visdom  of 
God,  and  receive  the  w ord  of  divine  truth  and  grace  ? Do 
not  the  very  men,  who  so  loudly  extol  their  wisdom  and 
their  religion,  exultingly  tell  us  at  the  same  time,  that 
those  eastern  w ise  men  will  never  embrace  the  gospel, — 
and  even  deride  the  very  attempt  to  convert  them  to  the 
religion  of  Christ  ! Do  the  men,  who  thus  exult,  and  de- 
ride, still  call  themselves  Christians  ! It  does  not  belong 
to  us  to  make  out  their  consistency,  or  their  godly  sincer- 
ity ; nor  will  we  stop  here  to  ask  them,  whether  they  have 
forgotten  that  the  gospel  is  the  power  of  God,  and  has  often 
bowed  the  loftiest  pride  of  man.  It  is  sufficient  for  our 
present  purpose,  that  they  so  readily  admit,  and  so  confi- 


24) 


dcntly  upou  the  fact,  that  the  tvisdotu  and  veligiuii  of 
Brahma  is  utterly  adverse  to  the  wisdom  and  religion  of 
Jehovah  : and  from  this  notorious  fact  we  conclude,  that 
the  wisdom  of  India,  no  less  than  the  wisdom  of  Greece, 
is  foolishness  with  God,  and  such  as  God  ere  long  will 
destroy.  We  conclude  further,  that,  if  such  is  the  ad- 
mission respecting  the  wisdom  of  India,  it  will  not  be  con- 
tended, that  the  wisdom  of  any  other  pagan  country  will 
bear  the  test  of  the  divine  standard.  And,  Avith  the  apos- 
tle Ave  solemnly  ask,  Where  is  the  Avise  ? Avhere  is 
the  scribe  ? Avhere  is  the  disputer  of  this  Avorld  ? Hath 
not  Gt)d  made  foolish  the  wisdom  of  this  Avorld 

3.  We  are  led  devoutly  to  contemplate  the  goodness  of 
God  in  the  Avonderful  economy  of  his  tmth  and  grace. 

After  that,  in  the  Avisdom  of  God,  the  Avorld  by  Avisdom 
kncAV  not  God,  it  pleased  God,  by  the  foolishness  of 
preaching,  to  save  them  that  believe.”  To  infinite  Avisdom 
it  seemed  fit  to  give  ample  opj)ortunity  for  the  pride  of 
human  Avisdom  to  make  good  its  pretensions.  This  af- 
forded the  most  decisive  evidence  of  the  desperate  mad- 
ness, naturally  in  the  hearts  of  the  children  of  men  ; of  the 
complete  moral  ruin  into  Avhieh  sin  has  brought  them  ; and 
of  the  absolute  inefficacy  of  their  utmost  inventions  and 
expedients,  to  recover  them  to  true  virtue,  dignity,  and 
happiness  : and  thus  prepared  the  Avay  for  the  fullest  man- 
ifestation, that  the  foolishness  of  God  is  wiser  than  man, 
and  the  weakness  of  God  stronger  than  man,”  for  the 
brightest  illustration  of  all  the  divine  perfections  in  the 
Avork  of  human  salvation,  and  for  the  higliest  thanksgiv- 
ings and  praises  of  the  redeemed,  Avith  all  the  multitude 
of  angels,  in  the  kingdom  of  immortal  glory. 

But  when  the  fulness  of  the  time  Avas  come,  Gotl  sent 
forth  his  Son  :”  and  the  Son,  having  made  atonement  for 
the  sins  of  tlve  world,  and  “ spoiled  principalities  and  poAv- 
ers  Avith  his  cross,”  sent  forth  his  ministei*s,  Avith  the  high 


commission  to  [weach  the  gospel  to  all  the  nations  : “ to 
open  their  eyes,  to  turn  them  from  darkness  unto  light  and 
from  the  power  of  satan  unto  God,  that  they  might  receive 
forgiveness  of  sins,  and  inheritance  among  them  that  are 
sanctified  through  faith  in  him.”  The  effect  was  trium- 
pliant  and  glorious.  The  preaching  of  Christ  crucified, 
foolishness  as  it  was  then,  and  has  always  been,  in  the  es- 
teem of  the  wise  iflen  of  this  world,  was  “ mighty  through 
God  to  tlie  pulling  down  of  strong  holds,  casting  down 
imaginations,  and  every  high  thing  which  exalted  itself 
against  the  knowledge  of  God,  and  bringing  into  captivi- 
ty every  thought  to  the  obedience  of  Christ.”  The  prince 
of  darkness  was  baffled, — his  oracles  were  silenced, — his 
temples  were  deserted.  The  wisdom  of  the  wise  was 
destroyed  ; the  understanding  of  the  prudent  was  brought 
to  nothing  ; the  mighty  were  confounded,  by  the  things 
whieh*they  proudly  accounted  weak.  The  darkness  of 
many  ages  was  dissipated.  Myriads  in  different  lands, 
turned  from  their  idols  unto  the  living  God,  obtained  the 
forgiveness  of  sins  through  faith  in  the  Redeemer’s  blood  ; 
were  sanctified  through  the  truth  and  by  the  grace  of  God, 
and  were  raised  up  together  and  made  to  sit  together  in 
heavenly  places  in  Christ  Jesus.”  “ This  was  the  Lord’s 
doing,  and  it  is  marvellous  in  our  eyes.” 

4.  We  are  led  very  seriously  to  consider  our  duty  in 
regard  to  the  propagation  of  the  gospel. 

The  stupendous  dispensation  of  divine  grace,  which 
opened  upon  the  Avorld,  eighteen  hundred  years  ago,  w ith 
such  transcendent  light  and  glory,  still  continues ; and,  * 
thanks  to  Sovereign  Goodness,  it  is  destined  to  continue, 
until  the  gods  that  made  not  the  heavens  and  the  earth 
shall  have  perished  from  the  earth,  and  from  under  these 
heavens,”  and  all  people  shall  know  Jehovah,  and  see 
his  salvation  together.”  If  we,  my  brethren,  are  not  bow  - 
ing down  to  idols,  w’ood  and  stone  ; if  we  have  the  true 
4 


26 


(jod  and  eternal  life  f’  if  we  have  a light  shining  on  our 
path  to  heaven,  and  the  hope  of  an  immortal  inheritance 
among  tliem  that  are  sanctified  through  faith  in  Christ  Je- 
sus : it  is  because  we  have  been  favoured  Avith  the  glori- 
ous gospel  of  the  blessed  God.  What  gratitude  is  due  to 
Him  who  hath  loved  us ! O when — how  shall  Ave  discharge 
the  infinite  debt  ? 

Can  Ave,  then,  think  of  the  many  millions  of  our  race, 
yet  destitute  of  this  supreme  blessing,  and  our  spirits  not 
be  stirred  in  us  ? Do  they  not  need  the  gospel  ? Is  there 
any  other  remedy  for  them  f — They  have  no  good  hope  ; 
they  are  Avithout  God  in  the  Avorld ; they  are  perishing 
for  lack  of  knoAvledge.  Their  gods  cannot  save  them  ; 
their  Avise  men  Avill  not,  cannot  direct  their  feet  into  the 
Avay  of  peace ; their  religion  does  not  sanctify  the  heart 
or  the  life  ; does  not  bring  them  to  the  blood  Avhich  cleans- 
eth  from  sin, — does  not  shew  them  a redeeming  God, — 
does  not  fit  them  for  the  mansions  of  immortal  light  and 
purity, — does  not  dissipate  the  darkness  Avhich  lieaA'ily 
broods  over  them,  thickening  into  the  blackness  of  eternal 
night ! — The  Avisdom  of  this  Avorld  has  never  saved  any 
of  mankind.  It  did  not  save  the  Greeks  : — did  not  bring 
them  to  the  true  knoAvledge  of  God  ; did  not  lead  them  to 
seek  for  heavenly  glory,  and  honour,  and  immortality ; 
did  not  preserve  or  recover  them  from  tlie  deepest  moral 
corruptions.  It  Avill  never  save  the  people  of  India.  The 
Bramins  of  India  are  not  Aviser,  or  better,  than  Avere  the 
sages  of  Greece.  They  too  change  the  truth  of  God  into 
a lie  ; and  Avorship  and  serve  the  creature,  more  than  the 
Creator,  Avho  is  God  over  all  blessed  forevermore.  Be- 
AV'ildered  in  endless  mazes  themselves,  they  Avill  never 
bring  the  people  home  to  God  and  to  glory.  AVhere  then 
shall  Ave  look  for  the  Avise  men  who  Avill  do  it  ? Shall  Ave 
look  to  the  rationalists  of  Christian  lands  ? Ah,  Imw  vain  ! 
hoAV  preposterous  ! They  shut  up  the  kingdom  of 


heaven  Against  men  : for  they  neither  go  in  themselves,  nor 
suffer  them  that  are  entering  to  go  in.”  Sedulously  in- 
tent on  “ taking  away  the  key  of  knowledge”  from  those 
to  whom  it  has  been  given,  little  will  they  exert  themselves 
for  the  salvation  of  the  poor  heathen  ; and  as  little  would 
all  their  vaunted  wisdom  avail  to  this  momentous  object, 
were  it  exerted  to  the  utmost.  My  brethren',  the  heathen 
do  need  the  gospel.  There  is  no  other  remedy  for  them. 

It  is  an  impious  dream  of  infidelity,  which  ought  to  be 
chased  from  the  earth,  down  to  the  place  whence  it  sprung, 
that  the  great  Parent  of  the  universe  has  designed  differ- 
ent religions  for  different  nations  : and  though  some  reli- 
gions may  be  better  in  his  slight  than  others,  yet  he  looks 
with  allowance,  and  even  with  complacency  upon  all. 
What  mean  the  denunciations  of  his  word,  so  numerous, 
so  tremendous,  against  all  idolatry,  and  all  idolaters? 
What  means  the  great  commission  of  the  Saviour,  Go 
ye,  and  disciple  all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the  name 
of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Sou,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost?” 
What  means  the  solemn  declaration,  There  is  none  oth- 
er name  given  under  heaven  among  men  whereby  Ave  must 
be  saA’ed,”  but  that  of  “Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth?”' 
What  means  the  whole  gospel  of  Christ — the  entire  word 
of  God  ? 

Since  it  has  been  made  decisively  manifest,  that  the 
world  by  wisdom  will  never  know  God*,  it  is  the  gracious 
pleasure  of  God,  by  that  preaching  which  the  world  calls 
foolishness,  to  save  them  that  believe.  More  was  done 
for  the  salvation  of  men,  by  the  single  discourse  of  the 
apostle  of  Jesus,  on  Mars  Hill,  than  all  the  wisdom  of 
the  world  could  ever  effect.  The  same  gospel  was  preach- 
ed at  Corinth  ; and  much  people  of  that  city — that  sink 
of  corruption — were  washed,  and  sanctified,  and  justifi- 
ed, in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  by  the  Spirit  of 
our  God.”  Its  triumphs  Avere  not  less  illustrious  at  Ephe- 


28 


sus,  the  glory  of  the  lesser  Asia — the  seat  of  the  great 
Goddess  Diana.  Nor  was  its  success  limited  to  the  pol- 
ished Greeks.  Among  the  rude  Galatians^  it  run  and 
was  glorified.”  Among  Jews  and  Greeks,  Barbarians, 
Scythians,  bond  and  free,  the  sanctifying  and  saving  effi- 
cacy of  the  doctrine  of  Christ  crucified,  was  deeisively  and 
gloriously  evinced.  So  shall  he  sprinkle  many  nations.” 
The  gospel,  accompanied  with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down 
from  heaven,  is  still  the  power  of  God  and  the  wisdom 
of  God  ;”  still  as  efficacious  as  ever  for  the  sanctification 
and  salvation  of  mankind. 

Let  it  be  cmj)hatically  repeated  : The  heathen  need  the 
i^os^el.  They  need  the  scriptures  in  their  own  languages. 
They  need  also  ministers  of  Christ  to  explain  the  scrip- 
tures, and  to  inculcate  these  words  of  eternal  life.  Un- 
derstandest  thou,”  said  Philip,  what  thou  readest  ?” 

How  can  I,”  said  the  eunuch,  except  some  man  guide 
me  ?”  The  divine  Redeemer  liad  a perfect  knowledge  of 
what  is  needful  for  mankind  ; and  hence  he  appointed 

some,  apostles  ; and  some,  prophets  ; and  some,  evan- 
gelists ; and  some,  pastors  and  teachers.”  The  same  in- 
finite goodness,  which  gave  the  written  word,  appointed 
also  that  this  word  should  be  preached  unto  all  people  ; 
and  to  say,  or  think,  that  the  dispersion  of  the  scriptures 
is  sufficient,  without  the  ministry  of  the  gospel,  is  to  exalt 
the  wisdom  of  man  against  the  wisdom  of  God,  even  to 
the  setting  aside  of  his  capital  institution.  How  little  at- 
tention  is  paid  to  the  scriptures,  where  there  is  no  preach- 
ing, even  in  Christian  lands  ? But  if  the  ministry  of  the 
gospel  is  necessary,  or  useful,  in  Christian  lands ; how 
much  more  in  pagan  ? How  arc  the  scriptures  to  be  dis- 
persed among  the  heathen,  if  there  be  no  missionaries  to 
translate  and  disperse  them  ? How  is  the  attention  of  the 
people  to  be  called  to  them  ? How  arc  they  to  be  instruct- 
ed in  them?  How  arc  churches  to  be  formed,  and  the  or. 


29 


clinances  of  the  gospel  to  be  administered? — We  do  not 
read,  that  the  nations  are  to  be  converted,  by  the  written 
word  merely  ; but  we  do  read,  that  it  hath  pleased  God , 
by  the  foolishness  of  preaching,  to  save  them  that  believe.” 
We  also  read,  “ How  shall  they  believe  in  him  of  whom 
they  have  not  heard  ? ani  how  shall  they  hear  without  a 
preacher  P and  how  shall  they  preach  except  they  he  sent 

Like  Paul,  then,  we,  my  brethren,  we  to  wliom  this  gos- 
pel of  the  grace  of  God  has  been  committed,  should  feel 
that  we  are  “ debtors  : debtors  to  the  Greeks  and  to  the 
Barbarians,  to  the  wise  and  to  the  unwise,”  to  do  what 
we  can  to  impart  the  inestimable  blessing  to  them  all. — 
How  shall  we  discharge  this  debt?  Shall  we  all  disperse 
ourselves  abroad,  and  actually  engage  in  preaching  to  the 
heathen  ? No  : but  some  of  us  must  go  ; others  of  us  must 
support  and  encourage  them  in  the  arduous  enterprize, 
with  our  substance  and  our  prayers  : all  of  us  must  do 
something  for  the  furtherance  of  this  great  work.  The 
deplorable  circumstances  of  six  hundred  millions  of  our 
race  urgently  demand  it ; the  supreme  authority  and  grace 
of  Him,  who  died  for  us  and  for  them  impressively  enjoin 
it : the  signal  events  of  this  new  age  of  wonders  powerful- 
ly encourage  and  impel  to  the  noble  attempt. 

Can  any  of  us  hesitate  ? Are  any  of  us  still  listening  to 
the  deceitful  voice  of  self  complacent  wisdom  ? There  is 
no  end  to  its  reasonings  and  objections.  Where  is  the 
wise  ? where  is  the  scribe  ? where  is  the  disputer  of  this 
world  ? They  have  been  dreaming,  for  ages,  of  enlighten- 
ing the  world : but  what  have  they  done  ? When  were 
they  ever  seen  to  stand  forw  ard  in  the  cause  of  God — to 
advance,  with  the  banner  of  the  cross,  upon  the  powers  of 
darkness  ? — to  display  a holy  heroism  in  taking  the  prey 
from  the  mighty  and  the  captive  from  the  terrible  ? Had 
the  apostles  listened  to  the  wise  men  of  Jerusalem,  and  of 
Athens,  the  nations  might  all  have  remained  in  darkness 


30 


44- A 


to  this  day.  If  we  wait  for  the  help,  or  the  leave,  of  men 
like  minded  with  them,  we  must  wait  until,  not  only  the 
present  generation,  but  all  the  generations  of  the  pagan 
world,  are  gone  to  the  final  abode  of  the  nations  that  for- 
get God.  It  is  time  that  the  disciples  of  Jesus  of  Naza- 
reth  should  cease  to  inquire  of  the  associates  of  Mars  Hill ; 
and  give  their  ears  and  their  hearts  to  the  heavenly  coun- 
sels and  sentiments  of  the  holy  assembly  on  the  hill  of 
Zion.  It  is  more  than  time,  that  the  soldiers  of  the  cross 
should  cease  to  parley  with  the  enemies  of  their  exalted 
King  ; and,  ardently  rallying  to  his  standard,  engage  with 
one  heart  and  hand  in  the  glorious  work  of  spreading  his 
truth,  establishing  his  kingdom,  and  bringing  home  his 
redeemed. 

Blessed  be  God,  the  Christian  world  is  wakiug  up  from 
the  slumbers  of  many  centuries.  Already  many  thou- 
sands in  different  lands  are  moved,  as  with  one  common 
impulse,  to  impart  the  word  of  life  to  the  destitute.  We 
hail  this  wonderful  movement  as  the  finger  of  God ! W e 
hail  it  as  a sure  and  most  animating  prelude  to  that  long 
expected — long  prayed  for  day — when  every  valley 

shall  be  exalted,  and  every  mountain  and  hill  shall  be 
made  low ; the  crooked  shall  be  made  straight,  and  the 
rough  places  plain ; the  glory  of  Jehovah  shall  be  reveal- 
ed, and  all  flesh  shall  see  it  together.  The  word  is  sure  ; 
for  the  mouth  of  Jehovah  hath  spoken  it. 

Beloved  Missionaries, 

You  have  not  yet  visited  the  abodes  of  pagan  darkness  ; 
you  have  not  yet  actually  seen  the  corruptions  and  the 
miseries  of  the  heathen  : but  you  have  heard  of  them, — 
you  have  reflected  upon  them, — and  your  spirits  have 
been  stirred  in  you.  They  have  been  stirred  to  good 
purpose.  You  have  called  to  mind  the  commandment 
of  the  everlasting  God,  that  the  gospel  should  be  made 


31 

known  to  all  nations  for  the  obedience  of  faith.”  You 
have  meditated  on  what  was  done,  in  obedience  to  this 
commandment,  by  the  first  Missionaries  of  the  cross,  and 
by  others  of  like  spirit  after  them  ; on  what  is  doing  in 
the  present  age  of  missions, — and  on  what  yet  remains  to 
be  done.  • While  you  have  mused  the  fire  has  burned, — 
the  hallowed  fire  of  love  to  the  Redeemer  and  to  the  souls 
for  whom  he  died  ; you  have  spoken  with  your  mouths ; 
the  momentous  vow  is  recorded  in  heaven,  and  now  to  bo 
sealed  before  the  universe,  by  the  solemn  transactions  of 
this  day. 

You  are  going,  dear  Brethren,  far  hence  to  the  gentiles, 
to  preach  among  them  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ, 
and  to  do  what  you  can  to  tuni  them  from  their  vanities 
unto  the  living  God.  We  rejoice  in  your  noble  resolve, 
and  in  your  high  destination ; and  we  bow  the  knee 
in  devout  thankfulness  to  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  for  the  distinguished  grace,  bestowed  upon 
you.  In  the  multitude  of  your  thoughts  within  you,  may 
his  comforts  delight  your  souls. 

We  are  not  unmindful  of  the  sacrifices  you  make,  in 
leaving  your  country,  and  your  kindred,  and  your  fathers’ 
houses, — the  scenes  and  connexions  endeared  to  your 
hearts  by  a thousand  tender  ties, — and  all  the  flattering 
promises  and  alluring  prospects  of  the  world.  Nor  are 
we  thoughtless  of  the  hardships  and  the  perils  which 
await  you : — hardships  in  voyages,  in  journeyings,  in 
labours,  in  watchings,  in  fastings,  in  weariness  and  pain- 
fulness perils  of  w aters,  perils  of  robbers,  perils  by 
your  own  countrymen,  perils  by  the  heathen,  perils  in  the 
city,  and  in  perils  in  the  wilderness.” — Dear  Brethren, 
shall  we  pity  you  ? — The  w orld  indeed,  while  it  censures, 
may  affect  also  to  pity  you  ; for  the  w'orld  knoweth  you 
not,  nor  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God.”  Our  hearts,  be 
assured,  are  tenderly  touched  : with  sentiments  how’ever. 


34i 


not  of  mere  pity,  but  of  what  we  might  almost  call  a holy 
envy.  We  remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus  : 

There  is  no  man  that  hath  left  house,  or  parents,  or 
brethren,  or  wife,  or  children,  for  the  kingdom  of  God’s 
sake,  who  shall  not  receive  manifold  more  in  this  time, 
and  in  the  world  to  come  life  everlasting.”  Wh  remem- 
ber Paul,  and  other  apostles  and  martyrs  of  the  cross  : — 
how  they  forsook  all  things, — suffered  the  loss  of  all  things; 

endured  afflictions,  necessities,  distresses,  stripes,  im- 
prisonments, persecutions”  unto  death  : — counting  not 
even  their  lives  dear  unto  themselves,  so  that  they  might 
finish  their  course  with  joy,  and  the  ministry  which  they 
had  received  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the  gospel  of 
the  grace  of  God  — though  “ sorrowful,  yet  always  re- 
joicing ; though  poor,  yet  making  many  rich ; though 
having  nothing,  yet  possessing  all  things.”  We  glory  in 
their  memory  ; we  admire  their  spirit ; we  exult  in  their 
triumphs ; we  adore  the  grace  which  was  sufficient  for 
them  ; we  are  transported  with  their  glorious  and  immor- 
tal rewards. 

We  look  upon  you,  dear  Brethren,  as  servants  of  the 
same  Master, — partakers  of  the  same  spirit, — devoted  to 
the  same  cause, — destined  to  run  for  the  same  prize. — 
We  are  only  concerned,  that  you  so  run  as  surely  to  ob- 
tain. Amid,  then,  the  thousand  tender  thoughts,  arid  the 
thousand  obtruding  anxieties  of  this  day,  give  yourselves 
up  for  this  holy,  arduous,  glorious  service,  without  reserve, 
without  regret,  without  fear ; firmly  resolving  in  the 
strength  of  divine  grace  to  be  followers  of  them,  who, 
through  faith  and  patience,  inherit  the  promises.  Take 
particularly  for  your  example,  the  distinguished  Apostle 
of  the  gentiles,  and  I>e  followers  of  him  even  as  he  was 
of  Christ.  Imitate  him  in  love  to  God,  in  devotedness  to 
Christ,  in  benevolence  to  men  ; in  faith,  in  self-denial,  in 
patience,  in  fortitude,  in  courage ; in  zeal,  in  wisdom,  in 


lilbonrs;  in  prayerfulness,  in  perseverance.  Do  this,  and 
you  will  not  run  in  vain.  Do  this,  and  the  Lord  God  of 
the  holy  apostles  and  prophets  will  be  with  you ; he 
will  never  leave  you  nor  forsake  you ; and  to  him  you 
may  safely  commit  your  persons,  your  interests,  your 
hopes,  your  work,  and  your  reward. 

Your  dear  and  honoured  brethren,  who  have  gone  be- 
fore you,  though  they  have  been  painfully  tried,  have  not 
repented  of  their  enterprise  : though  they  have  met  with 
many  discouragements,  they  do  not  faint,  or  waver  in 
their  purpose.  Who  does  not  admire  the  noble,  the  apos- 
tolick  spirit  which  they  have  displayed  ? Who  does  not 
daily  give  thanks  to  God  for  the  abundant  grace  bestow  ed 
on  them  ? They  call  for  you  ; they  encourage  you  to 
follow  them.  They  have  seen — they  have  seen  ! — and 
their  eyes  have  affected  their  hearts. 

Go  forth,  then,  beloved  brethren,  in  the  name  of  Him 
wlio  is  to  have  the  heathen  for  his  inheritance.  Go,  with 
the  dear  partners  of  your  hearts, — destined  to  be  partners 
also  of  your  sorrows  and  your  joys,  your  fears  and  your 
hopes,  your  conflicts  and  your  triumphs,  your  labours  and 
your  rewards  : — destined,  we  devoutly  trust,  to  an  enrol- 
ment with  HER,  w hose  memory  is  so  dear  to  all  our  hearts, 
and  whose  spirit  now  rests  from  her  labours,  in  the  bosom 
of  her  Saviour  God  ! — Go — preach  to  the  poor  heathen 
the  Saviour  who  loved  them  also,  and  died  for  them, 
though  they  have  known  him  not. — Go — communicate  to 
them  the  Avords  by  w^hich  they  and  their  houses  may  be 
saved,  and  kindly  guide  theii-  feet  into  the  way  of  glory, 
and  honour,  and  immortality.  Go — and  may  the  God  of 
all  grace  go  with  you,  and  open  to  you  a great  door  and 
eflectual ; make  you  successful  in  turning  many  from  dark- 
ness unto  light ; enable  you  to  prepare  an  abundant  bless- 
ing for  the  generations  to  come  ; guide  you  evermore  with 


his  counsel; — give  you  grace  to  he  faithful  unto  death;~ 
and;  in  the  final  day;  award  to  each  one  of  you  a crown  of 
glory  which  shall  never  fade  away. 

Brethren  and  friendS;  you  see  these  dear  Missiona- 
ries; and  your  hearts  are  touched  for  them.  While;  then, 
this  holy  sympathy  is  warm,  let  us  with  one  heart  recom- 
mend them  to  the  giace  of  God,  for  the  momentous  work 
to  which  they  are  appointed.  Here,  too,  in  this  hallowed 
temple,  let  us  solemnly  record  the  inviolable  vow,  that  we 
will  never  cease  to  remember  them,  or  to  pray  for  them  : 
and  particularly,  that  on  the  first  Monday  of  each  month, 
the  season  appointed  in  Europe,  in  Asia,  in  Africa,  and 
in  this  country,  for  special  missionary  prayer,  we  will 
meet  them  at  the  throne  of  grace,  and  unite  with  them  and 
the  many  thousands  of  Israel,  in  fervent  supplication  for 
them,  for  all  engaged  in  the  same  great  work,  for  the  con- 
version of  the  nations,  and  for  the  prosperity  of  Zion  in 
all  lands.  Jehovah  hath  not  said  unto  the  seed  of  Ja- 
cob, Seek  ye  me  in  vain.”  In  answer  to  the  prayers  of 
his  people,  he  has  already  done  great  things,  and  he  will 
do  still  greater.  At  this  very  day,  he  is  sending  down 
showers  of  heavenly  influence  upon  our  land,  and  partic- 
ularly upon  our  public  seminaries  ; raising  up  many  of  our 
sons  for  pastors,  and  of  our  young  men  for  missionaries  ; 
and  preparing  the  hearts  of  multitudes,  for  more  and  more 
abundant  freewill  offerings,  for  his  holy  service  in  the 
spread  of  his  great  salvation.  The  work  will  prosper : — 
it  will  proceed  until  to  an  extent  and  conspicuousness  at 
which  the  world  will  be  amazed,  persons  and  property 
will  be  HOLINESS  TO  THE  LouD.  Aiul  from  the  East  unto 
the  West,  and  from  the  North  unto  the  South,  the  song 
shall  be  heard,  sweet  as  the  song  of  angels,  How  beau- 
tiful upon  the  mountains  are  the  feet  of  him  that  bringefli 
good  tidings,  that  publisheth  peace ; that  bringcih  good 


35 

tidings  of  good,  that  publishetli  salvation  ; — that  saith  unto 
Zion,  Thy  God  reigneth  ! — Break  forth  into  joy, — sing 
together,  ye  waste  places  : for  the  Lord  hath  comforted 
liis  people  ; — hath  made  bare  his  holy  arm  in  the  eyes 
of  all  the  nations ; and  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  shall  see 
the  salvation  of  our  God.’^  Hallelujah.  AMEN. 


CHARGE 

BY  DANIEL  DANA,  D.D. 

PASTOR  OF  A PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  IN 

j^ewburtpout. 

Dear  Brethren, 

T he  great  Head  of  the  Church  has  given  you  the  desire 
of  your  hearts.  By  solemn  prayer,  and  imposition  of 
hands,  you  have  now  been  constituted  Ministers  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  Missionaries  to  the  heathen.  Yes,  ray  breth- 
ren, to  you,  humbly  esteeming  yourselves  among  the  least 
of  saints,  ‘‘  is  this  grace  given,  that  you  should  preach 
among  the  Gentiles  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ.’’ 
No  sublimer  honor  can  mortals  impart,  or  receive.  With 
the  honor,  are  connected  responsibilities  and  duties,  whose 
magnitude  the  mind  can  but  faintly  conceive,  and  eternity 
alone  can  fully  unfold. 

In  this  tender,  aAvful  moment,  suffer  me  to  stand  up  as 
your  monitor.  Suffer  me,  as  the  humble  organ  of  this 
Council,  and  in  His  adorable  name  to  whom  you  and 
we  are  equally  accountable,  to  charge  you  to  be  “ faithful 
unto  death.” 

As  you  would  take  heed  to  your  ministry,  take  heed, 
first  of  all,  to  yourselves.  See  that  your  hearts  be  right 
witli  God ; that  your  bosoms  burn  with  love  to  the  Re- 
deemcr,  love  to  his  gospel,  and  love  to  the  souls  of  men. 
See  that  you  esteem  even  the  reproach  of  Christ,  with  the 
self-denials,  the  toils,  and  the  sufferings  of  your  office, 
greater  gain  than  all  worldly  treasures  or  distinctions. 
W retched  is  that  minister,  though  in  comparative  ease  and 
affluence,  who  is  a stranger  to  these  principles  of  action, 
and  these  sources  of  comfort.  But  you,  who  arc  so  soon 
to  part  with  friends,  with  country,  with  earthly  delights ; 
and  whose  future  lives  must  be  one  scries  of  exertions  and 


37 


sacrifices where  can  you  find  a refuge,  but  in  simple, 

ardent  devotion  to  your  Master,  and  your  work  ? 

^\  e trust,  indeed,  that  you  have  anticipated  us  in  these, 
reflections.  We  trust  that  that  omniscient  Being  wliose 
eye  is  this  moment  on  your  hearts,  knows  their  sincerity. 
Nor  could  we  give  a stronger  pledge  of  our  confidence, 
than  you  have  received  this  day.  But  in  you,  my  breth- 
ren, ordinary  piety  would  be  insufficient.  To  be  faithful 
and  successful  Missionaries,  you  must  be  eminent  Chris- 
tians. In  purity  of  heart,  in  simplicity  and  elevation  of 
purpose,  in  faith,  in  zeal,  in  self-denial,  in  courage,  in 
fortitude,  in  humility,  in  discretion,  you  must  far  exceed 
the  common  standard.  To  this  sublime  object  be  your 
efforts  and  prayers  incessantly  directed ; and  here  let  a 
holy  ambition  have  all  its  scope. 

AVhen,  under  the  guardian  care  of  Providence,  you 
shall  arrive  at  your  allotted  stations  in  the  distant  Bast 
and  AV'est,  you  will  witness  scenes  the  most  painful.  You 
will  see  rational  creatures  immersed  in  ignorance,  in  su- 
perstition and  idolatry.  You  will  see  immortal  beings 
living  w ithout  God,  and  dying  without  hope.  But  let  not 
your  hearts  despond.  You  will  carry  with  you  the  sove- 
reign balm,  the  universal  remedy,  for  human  guilt  and 
wretchedness.  You  will  go  clothed  with  a divine  com- 
mission to  open  the  eyes”  of  these  unhappy  beings  ; 
“ to  turn  them  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  pow  er 
of  satan  unto  God.^’  Think  of  Him  w ho,  from  age  to 
age,  has  raised  up  from  the  dry  bones  of  human  nature, 
armies  of  living  Christians.  And  remember  that  though 
the  power  which  has  accomplished  these  stupendous 
changes  has  been  all  of  God,  the  instrument  has  been  his 
holy  w’ord. 

Go  then,  and  preach  this  blessed  gospel.  Preach  it  in 
its  power.  Preach  it  in  its  native  simplicity  and  purity. 
It  is  the  w isdom  of  God  ; and  surely  needs  no  human 
admixtures,  or  ornaments.  In  erecting  the  temple  of 


38 

Christianity  among  the  heathen,  see  that  its  foundation 
and  superstructure,  its  materials  and  proportions  be  all 
correspondent  with  the  divine  model. 

Your  preaching,  to  accomplish  its  end,  must  be  flam. 
It  must  present  the  elementary  truths  of  Christianity,  in 
their  simplest  form.  Be  content  to  lay  aside  the  stateli- 
ness  of  learning,  and  to  lisp  awhile  with  those  uuinstruct- 
ed  immortals  whom  you  may  address.  Feed  them  with 
milk.  Conduct  them,  by  the  gentlest  gradations,  up  the 
heights  of  Christian  knowledge.  Having  taught  them  the 
character  and  perfections  of  God,  with  the  truth  and  in- 
spiration of  the  scriptures,  be  principally  emphatical  upon 
those  doctrines  wliich  constitute  the  basis  of  the  Christian 
system,  and  the  grand  support  of  vital  piety.  Frequently 
and  faithfully  inculcate  the  utter  depravity  of  man,  the 
divinity  and  atonement  of  Christ,  the  influence  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  in  conversion  and  sanctiflcation,  together 
with  the  distinguishing  nature  and  evidences  of  saving  re- 
ligion. 

While  you  conceal  no  important  truth,  however  morti- 
fying or  humbling,  be  especially  solicitous  to  exhibit  the 
grace  and  kindness  of  the  gospel.  Let  the  love  of  Jesus 
be  often  on  your  lips,  and  let  it  deeply  imbue  your  spirits. 
Convince,  if  possible,  those  unhappy  pagans  of  your  wil- 
lingness to  impart  to  them  not  the  gospel  of  God  only, 
but  your  own  souls.”  Be  assured,  that  sermon  is  essen- 
tially defective,  which  does  not  leave  on  the  mind  of  the 
hearer  the  distinct  impression,  that  the  gospel,  and  the 
preacher  too,  is  his  friend. 

In  a word  : preach  by  your  practice.  Let  the  doctrines 
and  duties  you  inculcate,  be  embodied  in  your  daily  de- 
portment. O how  eloquent,  how  persuasive,  is  a uniform, 
pious,  Christian  example ! Here  you  w ill  be  understood 
without  an  interpreter.  The  beauty  of  holiness,  like  the 
sun,  is  seen  by  its  own  light.  If  you  are  the  living  epis- 
tles of  Christf  you  will  be  known  and  read  of  all  men. 


39 

Happy  indeed  will  you  be,  if,  in  the  close  of  your  mis- 
sionary career,  you  may  make  to  those  around  you,  the 
apostolic  appeal : “Ye  are  witnesses,  and  God  also,  how 
holily,  and  justly,  and  unblamably  we  have  behaved  our- 
selves among  you.’’ 

Your  first  wish,  we  trust,  is  to  approve  yourselves  to 
your  GREAT  Master’s  eye.  Next  to  this,  your  hearts 
will  pant  for  success  in  converting  the  heathen.  But  this 
success  no  fidelity  or  efi'orts  of  yours  can  secure.  Should 
you  go  forth  with  the  abilities  and  zeal  of  a Paul,  and  the 
fervid  eloquence  of  an  Apollos,  you  would  but  plant  and 
water.  The  increase  must  come  from  God.  To  God, 
then,  pour  out  your  ceaseless  prayers  for  his  blessing  on 
your  labors.  Nor  be  discouraged,  though  you  should  per- 
ceive no  immediate  fruit  of  your  pious  exertions.  It  may 
be  the  purpose  of  God  more  signally  to  try  the  faith  of  the 
friends  of  missions  in  America,  before  he  will  grant  suc- 
cess to  their  designs.  It  may  be  his  will  to  train  you,  his 
ministers,  by  the  discipline  of  adversity  and  disappoint- 
ment, to  superior  degrees  of  humility,  of  faith,  and  of  ul- 
timate usefulness.  Should  you,  after  months,  and  even 
years,  of  anxious,  indefatigable,  and  apparently  fruitless 
exertion,  perceive  some  symptoms  of  success  ; should  the 
Lord  make  bare  his  arm  for  the  conviction  and  conversion 
of  the  heathen  ; this  will  be  like  life  from  the  dead.  You 
w ill  then  be  employed  in  gathering  Churches,  and  admin- 
istering the  sacraments  of  the  New  Testament,  Baptism 
and  the  Lord’s  Supper.  In  determining  on  the  subjects 
of  these  Christian  privileges,  you  will  need  much  know- 
ledge of  the  scriptures,  much  attention  to  the  human  heart, 
much  accuracy  of  discrimination,  andimpartiality  of  judg- 
ment. May  the  Spirit  of  truth  be  your  Guide  ! May  you 
neither  reject  those  whom  Christ  has  received  ; nor  by  a 
vague,  or  precipitate  application  of  the  seals  of  the  cove- 
nant, wound  the  Redeemer’s  eaiise,  and  injure  the  souls 
of  men  ! 


40 

Surveying  the  magnitude  and  complexity  of  your  work, 
with  its  everlasting  consequences,  not  to  yourselves  alone, 
but  perhaps  to  millions  yet  unborn,  you  tremble ; and 
sometimes  you  are  even  ready  to  despond.  But  let  not  a 
sense  of  your  insufficiency  dishearten  you.  The  cause  is 
less  yours,  than  the  Lord’s.  Without  his  gracious  pre- 
sence,  angels  might  shrink  from  so  arduous  a work.  But 
blest  with  his  almighty  succor,  you,  feeble  in  yourselves 
as  worms,  shall  be  made  strong  and  prosperous.  Often 
ponder  the  Redeemer’s  promise,  made  to  all  his  faithful 
ministers,  and  emphatically  to  his  faithful  missionaries  : 
£o,  I am  with  you  alway,  even  to  the  end  of  the  world. 
Let  this  promise  be  your  anchor  of  hope,  and  shield  of 
defence.  Let  it  impart  comfort  in  despondency,  and  un- 
shaken  courage  in  danger. 

Go  forth,  then,  our  dearly  beloved  brethren,  in  the  name 
and  strength  of  the  living  God  ; and  carry  with  you  the 
prayers,  the  solicitudes,  and  the  sympathies  of  all  who 
love  our  common  Lord.  Go,  cross  the  Atlantic  wave,  or 
penetrate  the  Western  wild,  fraught  with  tlie  riches  of  the 
glorious  gospel.  Unfurl  the  standard  of  the  cross  on  the 
mountains  of  idolatry.  Bear  the  flaming  torch  of  inspira- 
tion into  the  gloomy  recesses  of  ignorance  and  supersti- 
tion ; and  pour  the  light  of  heaven  on  the  benighted,  des- 
olate minds  of  pagans  and  savages.  May  the  wilderness 
and  the  solitary  place  be  glad  for  you,  and  the  desert  re- 
joice and  blossom  as  the  rose  ! May  the  God  of  the  sea 
and  of  the  dry  land  go  with  you,  and  w ith  the  friends  of 
your  souls  ! May  his  kindest  angels  guard  you  ! May  his 
richest  consolations  everniore  refresli  you  ! May  you  be 
faithful  unto  death  ! And  in  the  great  rewarding  day,  may 
you,  in  the  midst  of  thousands  rescued  from  the  jaws  of 
destruction,  address  your  Redeemer  and  your  Judge ; 

Lord,  here  are  we,  and  the  spiritual  children  thou  hast 
given  us !”  Amen. 


THE 


RIGHT  HAND  OF  FELLOWSHIP 

BY  THE 

REV.  JUSTIN  EDWARDS, 

PASTOR  OF  THE  SOUTH  CHURCH  IX 

.iJ^DOVER. 


A.  principle  runs  through  the  Kingdom  of  Christ, 
which  binds  the  hearts  of  its  members  to  one  another,  and 
to  God.  This  lays  a foundation  for  intimate  fellowship  : 
for  the  members  of  Christ’s  Kingdom  are  one. 

However  divided  by  seas,  or  continents ; climes,  or 
ages  ; the  moment  they  become  citizens  of  Zion,  they  are 
all  ONE.  Patriarchs,  kings,  aud  prophets  ; apostles,  and 
martyrs  ; — Europeans,  Asiatics,  Africans,  and  Ameri- 
cans ; Jews,  and  Greeks  ; Barbarian,  Scythian,  bond  aud 
free,  all  one  in  Christ  Jesus.  They  have  one  God,  one 
Redeemer,  one  Sanctifier  ; are  pursuing  the  same  object, 
and  inspired  by  the  same  spirit ; contend  with  the  same 
enemies,  and  meet  the  same  trials ; march  the  same  way, 
under  the  same  Leader  ; will  arrive  at  the  same  place,  and 
join  forever  in  the  same  employment. 

This  lays  a foundation  for  endearing  communion,  not 
only  with  one  another,  but  with  God.  United  by  a prin- 
ciple, which,  like  attraction  in  the  system  of  nature,  binds 
all  to  the  centre  ; and  pressed  forward  by  the  force  of  in- 
finite love,  they  w ill  revolve,  till  drawn  closer  and  closer, 


' — they  are  swallowed  up  in  the  eft'ulgeuce  of  that  lumina- 
ry, whose  glory  fills  the  universe,  and  God  is  all  ix  all. 

On  this  ground.  Dear  Brethren,  viewing  you  as  mem- 
bers of  the  Kingdom  of  Christ,  and  commissioned  by  him 
to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  gentiles,  we,  now  in  the  pre- 
sence of  God,  angels,  and  men,  give  you  this  right  hand  : 
a token  that  we  receive  you  as  ministers  of  Christ,  and 
that  his  ministers  are  one  : that  we  acknowledge  your 
equality  Avitli  us ; and  with  all  ministers  of  Christ,  through- 
out his  kingdom  : and  your  right  to  all  the  authority,  and 
privileges  of  the  sacred  office.  We  also  express  our  cor- 
dial approbation  of  the  service  to  Avhich  you  are  appoint- 
ed ; our  readiness  to  assist  you  by  all  the  means  in  our 
power ; and  to  embrace,  in  bonds  of  Christian  affection, 
all,  of  every  nation,  kindred,  people,  and  tongue,  Avho  by 
your  instrumentality  shall  be  turned  to  righteousness. 

Go  then,  in  the  name  and  strength  of  Christ,  and  may 
the  Lord  God  Omnipotent,  make  you  the  means  of  turn- 
ing many  from  darkness  to  light,  and  prepare  you,  to  shine 
as  the  stars  forever. 

But,  Brethren,  your  work  is  great,  difficult,  and  dan- 
gerous : and  requires  no  ordinary  share  of  self-denial ; 
fsiith,  and  patience ; wisdom,  prudence,  humility,  bold- 
ness, perseverance,  and  prayer. 

You  must  forsake  all : give  up  houses  and  lands  ; par- 
ents and  country  : commit  yourselves,  and  your  compan- 
ions to  the  mercy  of  the  winds,  and  the  waves  ; go  into  a 
land  of  darkness,  and  the  shadow  of  death  ; penetrate  the 
very  heart  of  satan’s  empire  ; and  that  too  for  the  purpose 
of  disenthroning  him,  and  turning  his  subjects  to  God. 

Your  ol)ject  is,  not  to  lead  the  heathen  to  adopt  a few 
new  gods,  but  to  aliandon  all  tlieir  old  ones  ; to  declare 
eternal  war  against  gods  whom  they  have  worshipped 
from  their  infancy  ; against  all  tlie  gods  of  their  fathers  : 
and  fathers’  fathers  ; condemn  themselves,  and  all  others 


43 


lor  embracing  them  ; aiul  embrace  one,  who  was  crucified, 
by  a band  of  soldiers,  on  Calvary,  and  who,  you  say,  has 
risen  again.  In  doing  this,  you  must  contend,  not  only 
w ith  flesh  and  blood,  but  with  principalities,  and  powers  ; 
Avith  the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of  tliis  Avorld  ; and  Avith 
spiritual  Avickedness  in  high  places.  • 

But,  Brethren, /ear  not.  Behold  the  fishermen  of  Gal- 
ilee : commissioned,  like  you,  to  enter  satau’s  dominions, 
and  bring  out  his  captives  into  the  liberty  of  tlie  sons  of 
God.  Helpless,  they  raised  theipeye,  and  surveyed  un- 
numbered  millions,  bound  in  the  chains  of  sin,  and  guard  - 
ed  by  all  the  powers  of  darkness, — yet,  rising  in  the 
strength  of  God,  and  putting  on  the  shield  of  faith,  the 
breast-plate  of  righteousness,  and  the  helmet  of  salvation, 
they  dreAv  the  SAVord  of  the  Spirit,  and  Avent  forward, 
CONQUERING  AND  TO  CONQUER.  Satan,  aiid  all  his  le- 
gions, driven  out  from  strong  holds  Avliich  they  had  forti- 
fied for  ages,  retired  in  dismay  before  this  band  of  mar- 
tyi’s, — and  they  Avaved  in  holy  triumph  the  ensigns  of 


of  God,  and  not  of  them.  Deliverance  to  captives,  broke 
from  their  tongues — and  millions,  bursting  the  chains  of 
death,  came  out  from  tlieir  prisons — tears  of  repentance 
dropped  from  their  gazing  eyes, — and  they  melted  before 
the  cross  of  Jesus. 

If  the  Lord  has  assigned  ijou  a Avork  among  the  heath- 
en, you  Avill  live  to  perform  it.  He  Avill  give  his  angels 
charge  concerning  you  : Avill  bear  you  in  his  arms  ; and 
carry  you  to  the  desired  haven.  Already  Ave  see  your 
vessel,  Avafted,  by  the  breezes  of  heaven,  across  the  At- 
lantic : see  perishing  heathen,  touched  by  the  spirit  w hich 
goes  before  you,  burdened  Avith  sin,  rising  on  their  hil- 
locks, and  looking  round  for  a Saviour they  catch  a 

vieAv  of  the  ark,  press  dowm  to  the  beach,  and  stretch  out 
their  arms  to  receive  you  : and,  as  you  go  up  the  hills  of 


44 

India,  we  hear  the  song  of  the  Hindoos,  ‘‘  Mow  beautiful 
upon  the  mountains  are  the  feet  of  him  that  hringeth  good 
tidings,  that  publisheth  peace,  that  bringeth  good  tidings 
of  good  ; that  publisheth  salvation,  that  saith  unto  Zion, 
Thy  God  reigneth”  And,  lo,  the  mountain  of  the  Lord^s 
liousc  rises  on  the  tops  of  the  mountains — the  flame  of  ho- 
ly love  kindles  on  everji  altar, — and  a great  cloud  of  in- 
cense goes  up  from  the  whole  earth. 


